About Us

About Us

Sonneborn is a world leader in the manufacture and supply of high-purity specialty hydrocarbons for use in both the consumer and industrial marketplaces.

Since the early 1900s, the Sonneborn name has been synonymous with the highest-quality refined hydrocarbons. Our customers include some of the world’s most recognizable consumer and industrial goods manufacturers. Their loyalty is testament to our commitment to that promise. We are committed to the goal of providing our customers with premium products, superior technical capabilities and dependable service. Sonneborn LLC is owned by One Equity Partners (“OEP”), the private investment arm of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

History
Sonneborn’s refinery in Petrolia, Pennsylvania, traces its heritage back to the late-1800s, while our facilities in the Netherlands have a full century of manufacturing and applications expertise. We pioneered the production of petrolatum for use in medical salves and ointments from the utilization of petroleum by-products previously considered unusable. The next major development came as a result of the first World War. We became the first refiner of white oils in the United States, as offshore white oil was unavailable during those years. This marked a watershed in the future direction and growth of Sonneborn and its product offerings.

Global Presence
Sonneborn is the global leader in the manufacture and supply of high-purity specialty hydrocarbons. Along the way, we’ve improved on our original developments, utilizing our state-of-the-art refining and manufacturing processes to pioneer such innovations as stabilized and low-volatility plastics oils, super white petrolatums, high-pressure compressor lubricants and specialty food grade wax blends. Most recently, we have introduced a 100 percent vegetable-based product line for personal care applications.

We offer a similar product range in both Europe and North America, enabling us to more efficiently serve the needs of our global customers. Sonneborn is the world’s only specialty hydrocarbon producer that offers this global reach expertise and depth of experience.

Product Line
Sonneborn offers the broadest line of highly refined hydrocarbon products in the industry. The numerous grades we offer satisfy a broad spectrum of applications, and our custom-formulating ability helps us meet your most exacting specifications. We provide grades that meet the strict standards of USP, NF, EuP, BP, DAB, French Codex, Japanese and other pharmacopoeias. We also provide products that conform to USDA and FDA classifications.